Bottle crate



2 Sheets Shet 1 A. TAURMAN BOTTLE CRATE Filed Dec.

Oct. 29, 1946.

A.TAUR'MA N INVENTOR.

5 ATTEIRNE 2 Sheets-Shed 2 A. TAURMAN BOTTLE CRATE Filed Dec.

Oct. 29, 1946.

AIAUQMAN INVENTOR.

ATTIIIRNEYY Patented Oct. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .BOTTLE CRATE Alphonso Taurman, Birmingham, Ala. Application December 11, 1944, Serial No. 567,615

8 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle crates of the character employed in merchandising bottled carbonated beverages and has for an object the provision of a metal crat of the character designated which shall be of relatively light weight, comparable to the weight of wooden crates heretofore employed, shall have the requisite strength to withstand rough handling, andwhich shall hav a relatively long life so that it will not require frequent renewal.

A further object of my invention is to provide a metal bottle crate which shall include means for positioning the bottles in the crate against displacement, which means shall afford reinforcement for the crate thereby permitting the use of relatively light gauge metal and still obtain the requisite strength,

In my previously filed application, Serial No. 555,633, filed September 25, 1944, there is shown, described and claimed a metal bottle crate having a body portion formed from a single sheet of metal bent in the form of a tube with reinforcing channels along the sides and with separate ends. A particular feature of the crate shown in said application is the provision of metal sleeves for holding the bottles in place, which sleeves are so disposed as to provide reinforcement for the body portion. The. constructionshown in this application is an improvement over that shown in my prior application aforesaid,- in that the body portion is soformed as to present all rounded corners thereby minimizing the, danger to persons handling the crate and further. includes a mounting for the sleeves around downturned flanges in the top and welding them to the top, to each other, and to the sides and ends of the crate, thereby providing a smooth top surface and additional reinforcement for the crate.

My invention also includes a bottle crate made of light gauge sheet metal which is of ex'ceptional strength and one which may be constructed with a minimum of operations and be readily assembled.

These and other objects and'advantages "of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawin s-forming a part of this applicationin which i.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a cratemadeinaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom planviewthereof;

Fig. 3 is an end-elevation of the crate;

Fig. 4 is aside elevation partly in section;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale showingthe construction of the handle; a

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the manner of joining the bottom to the sides and ends;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the construction of the bottom; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View of the crate with top, bottom and sleeves omitted. v

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, my improved bottle crate comprises a top I E), a bottom H, sides I2 and I3, and ends I4 audit. The top ID of the crate is formed from a single sheet of metal which is pressed or stamped in the shape shown with an overhanging flange l'i extending all the way around to provide rounded corners I8, as shown. Theoverhanging flange I1 fits over the sides and ends of the crate as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. The top I ii is also stamped to provide holes I9 for receivingb'ottles, the holes I9 being provided with downturned flanges 2| so that no sharp edges or rough surfaces are presented to the bottles.

Fitting around the downturned flanges 2! are sleeves 22 for guiding and holding the bottles in place. As may be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the holes 12 are closely spaced so that the sleeves 22 abut and are welded together along their'lines of engagement. They are also welded to the downturned flanges 2|. They, thus form a smooth, rigid, reinforced construction for the top It. Asshown in Fig. 3, the outer rows of sleeves 22 may be welded to the sides 12 and I3 which effects considerably more stiffening and strengthening of the to and sides, whereby the crate is adapted to withstand roughusage.

The sides l2 and [3 are formed from separate sheets of metal each pressed to shape to form one side and a half of each end ofthe crate. As may be seen in Figs. 4: 5 and 8, the sides and ends are pressed to form outturned portions 26 and 21 at top and bottom, respectively,- providing, between them depressed panels. The outturned portion 26 has an upturned flange 28 and the outturned portion. 21 is provided with a down. turned flange 29. The downturned flange I 1 of th top fits over the upturned flange 28 ofthe sides and ends as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The sheets forming the sides and ends abut at the enter, of the ends as shown at 25 in Fig. 8 and maybe joined together by welding. I The bottom II, like the top I9, is formed from single sheet of-metal stamped orpressed to shape with an upturned flange 20 extending all around and fitting over thedownturned flange I 29, at the bottom of the sides anden ds andis welded thereto;- 'The bottom-is also provided with a multiplicity of drain holes 3| so that no liquid can accumulate within the crate. In order to prevent displacements of the lower ends of the bottles, when in position in the crate, I press out protuberances 32 between the rows of sleeves against which the lower ends of the bottles are adapted to abut, as shown in Fig. 7. The bottles are thus guided and held in place for the major portions of their lengths within the sleeves 22 and are held in place at the bottom by means of the protuberances.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the ends [4 and I6 are each provided with inwardly flanged openings 33 for handling the crate. Extending across the upper part of each end of the crate and joined to the end row of sleeves is a plate 35 having a handle or grip portion 34 formed therein which is turned outwardly through the opening 33 and is joined to the top and end, being positioned between the flanges I! and 28 and welded thereto, as seen in Fig. 5. The plate 35 is welded to the end rows of sleeves 22 as shown at 36 in Figs. l and 5 and thus provides additional reinforcement and stillening for the ends of the crate and for the sleeves. In addition to the reinforcing already described, I may provide a stifiening plate 4!] connecting the bottom of the crate near the center to the superjacent sleeves.

My improved bottle crate is readily and easily assembled. The top in, bottom 1, sides and ends ii! and i3, and handles 34 are pressed to the shapes shown and the sleeves 22 formed. The sleeves 22 are first assembled in rows in abutting relation and welded together. The plate 35 is then welded to the end rows of sleeves 22 and the sides and ends [2 and it are assembled around the sleeves and the sleeves welded thereto. The bottom is next placed over the sides and ends as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and welded thereto; then the top is placed over the sides and ends and over the grip portion of the handle 3 5 as shown in Fig. 5. Also, the downturned flanges 2! of the top are entered into the sleeves 22 and the top is then welded to the sleeves, the sides and ends,

and the handle portion 36. It will be understood that this work of assembly may be handled with precisionjigs in a minimum of time and with a minimum of labor.

Fromthe foregoing, it will be apparent that I have devised an improved metal bottle crate which is simple of construction, easy of manufacture and assembly, light of weight, and yet strong and sturdy to withstand the. rough usage to which such devices are submitted and to have that permanency which is so necessary for economical operation of a bottling plant.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that onl such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. .A metal bottle crate comprising a top having rows of holes formed therein for receiving the bottles, said holes being closely and regularly spaced and having downturned flanges, sleeves for the bottles disposed in abutting relation and surrounding the flanges and joined thereto and to eachother, said sleeves stopping short of the bottom of the crate, and sides for the crate formed with depressed panels abutting the outer rows of sleeves and joined thereto.

2. A metal bottle crate comprising a top having rows of holes formed therein for receiving the bottles, said holes being closely and regularly spaced and having downturned flanges, sleeves for the bottles disposed in abutting relation and surrounding the flanges and joined thereto and to each other, sides for the crate formed with depressed panels abutting the outer rows of sleeves and joined thereto, and handles for the crate formed from plates extending across and welded to the end rows of sleeves and having grip portions curved downwardly outwardly and upwardly and joined to the top.

3. A metal bottle crate comprising a top having rows of holes formed therein for receiving the bottles, said holes being closely and regularly spaced and having downturned flanges, sleeves for the bottles in abutting relation and surrounding the flanges and joined thereto and to each other, sides for the crate formed with depressed panels abutting the outer rows of sleeves and joined .thereto, handles for the crate formed from plates extending across and welded to the end rows of sleeves and having grip portions curved downwardly outwardly and upwardly and joined to the top, and a bottom for the crate having protuberances formed therein to hold the lower ends of bottles against displacement.

l. A metal bottle crate comprising a top having rows of holes formed therein for receiving the bottles, said holes being closely and regularly spaced and having downturned flanges, sleeves for the bottle disposed in abutting relation and surrounding the flanges and joined thereto and to each other, said sleeves stopping short of the bottom of the crate, sides for the crate formed with outwardly projecting reinforcing shoulders with flanges at top and bottom forming depressed panels between the shoulders, said depressed panels abuttingthe outer rows of sleeves and joined thereto, a top for the crate having a downturned flange fitting over the upper flange and joined thereto, a bottomfor the crate having an upturned flange fitting over the lower flange and joined thereto, and protuberances formed in the bottom adapted to bear against the lower ends of the bottles and hold them in place.

5. A bottle crate as set forth in claim 4 in which the sides and ends are formed from sheets each pressed to form a side and a half of one end of the crate and an inwardly flanged opening in each end a handle member extending across the crate at each end abutting the end row of sleeves and joined thereto, and a curved grip forming a part of the handle member and extending outwardly through the opening in the end and joined to the upper flange of the end and to the top.

6. In a metal bottle crate having sides and ends, a. handle member extending across the ends, and abutting cylindrical bottle holders joined together and disposed in regular longitudinal and transverse rows with the side rows joined to the sides of the crate and the end rows joined to the handle members.

7. In a metal bottle crate having sides and ends,'a handle member extending across the ends, abutting cylindrical bottle holders joined together and disposed in regular longitudinal and transverse rows with the side rows joined to the sides of the crate and the end rows joined to the handle members, and a top having a downturned flange fitting about the sides and ends of the crate and joined thereto, and also having downwardly 5 flanged holes therein with the flanges fitting within and joined to the cylindrical holders.

8. In a metal bottle crate having sides and ends, a handle member extending across the ends,

abutting cylindrical bottle holders joined together 5 and disposed in regular longitudinal and transverse rows with the side rows joined to the sides of the crate and the end rows joined to the handle members, said holders stopping short of the bottom of the crate, a top having a downturned 10 

